Well it has been a while. I have been working 2 12hr shifts, all standing,walking. PT, affectionately known as Pain and Torture, has been just that. So why after 6 months does my ankle hurt worse and worse? OS said I have bad DJD now. So he has recommened a fusion. The idea of going thru surgery and months of crutches etc is so overwhelming to me. I thought the pain was just part of healing and kept waiting for it to go away. It swells so much I can barely walk to my car after working. Then I spend the next day trying to recup. So I never work back to back. I went to see my PT after the OS and he told me about ankle replacement, and how after fusion you develop other arthritis due to other joints compensating. I really don't know what to do. I am 34 and love my job, I can't imagine having this pain forever but I don't want more arthritis and more fusions in the future. Anyone else have to make this choice?